Some "Craigslist" questions.

**Surilda** · 08-22-2009, 11:25 PM

I have bought and sold items on Ebay.

Craigslist is new to me. I looked there for an item I really
needed and was able to find what I wanted at a great price!

The idea of listing things is appealing as you don't have to
find boxes to mail items in and make trips to the post office
like you do with Ebay.

I had a few questions on listing things for sale on Craigslist.

1. Is uploading pictures to go with your ad easy to do?

2. If several people should be interested in your item, how
do you handle this?

3. I am a bit leery of strangers coming to my house. Is
there anything special I should know/do before a prospective
buyer comes?

4. Is Craigslist free to use for a seller of an item?

I appreciate any information/tips you can provide.

Thanks!

**frugalfranny** · 08-22-2009, 11:38 PM

Originally Posted by Surilda

I have bought and sold items on Ebay.

Craigslist is new to me. I looked there for an item I really
needed and was able to find what I wanted at a great price!

The idea of listing things is appealing as you don't have to
find boxes to mail items in and make trips to the post office
like you do with Ebay.

I had a few questions on listing things for sale on Craigslist.

1. Is uploading pictures to go with your ad easy to do?
Yes, super easy. Done similar to how you do it on here.
2. If several people should be interested in your item, how
do you handle this?
I answer the emails in the order they come in and the first one to get there gets it. The only real problem I have had with this is for some things that were free.

3. I am a bit leery of strangers coming to my house. Is
there anything special I should know/do before a prospective
buyer comes?If it is furniture that is for sale I always move it to the garage. The ONLY time I have let someone in my house is when I sold a mattress.......and then I had it right at the front door for them to see it. I am ALSO prepared to tell people "NO" if they should ask to use my bathroom. (That is a way to 'scam/steal from' you and has been used here.) Have not had any real problems. But I am careful. I state when they write to me and are interested in the item that they can send me THEIR phone number and a couple times they are available and I will call them to give them directions.

4. Is Craigslist free to use for a seller of an item?Yes All of it is free.

I appreciate any information/tips you can provide.

Thanks!

Hope this helps..........if you have any other ?'s IM me.

**Surilda** · 08-23-2009, 12:12 AM

You covered things really well, Franny. Thanks so much!

I'm sure I will think of something else, so will probably be taking
you up on your PM offer.

Have a great week!

**Thevail** · 08-23-2009, 01:27 AM

I use Craigslist all the time!

I always insist on cash only. I'm just not dealing with bad checks!

If the item is small enough to be portable, I usually meet people somewhere else that's public. I also leave a note of the address and phone # of any place that I go to pick things up. If something freaky happens, there's a record of where I went and why. ( I know, I'm soo paranoid, but better safe than sorry.)

If I'm selling a large item, I try to make sure that there's someone else home with me when they come to pick it up. Or I take someone else with me if I go to someone's house.

I usually reply that I'd like to come look at the item rather than just saying I'll take it, unless I already know EXACTLY what it is. Many, many people apparently cannot measure things like sofas and rugs correctly. And I don't care how nice it looks, if it smells like a frat house or an elderly dog, I don't want it.

Just some tips, happy hunting!

**stinkbug** · 08-23-2009, 09:29 AM

Also....read the TOU carefully, as there are things you CANNOT sell on Craigslist. Weapons, ammo, pets (I'm really sick of the BYBs on our list) and make sure to give an acurrate desciption including dimentions and your general area. I'm not driving across town (20 minutes) for a 5.00 item. I always state that my items are from a non smoking household.
Please be polite and delete your ad when the item is sold (do not put *pending* on your ad!) and also it's nice to answer people even if the item is sold and tell them so. I think it's rude when people simply don't respond at all.
Beware the scammers...they are always popping up in answer to Craiglslist ads.....ignore them or report to Craigslist. they're easy to spot...you know...they want you to ship the item, blah, blah, blah....
You will get flakes who don't show up, etc. But all in all, I think it's way better than regular newspaper ads and Ebay. Also try to remember that cheap is the key! People are looking for yard sale prices, not re-sell prices. (especially on furniture)
Cash only!!!!

**ttistin** · 08-24-2009, 12:39 AM

Dh sold a ton of stuff on craigslist, he also bought and traded a lot on it. Traded a lawnmower for a car once lol

we would put on the ad what it was, if anything was wrong with it and take a few pictures. You can put 4 pictures on your ad. We took cash only, dh did not have a problem with people coming out to the house. I made sure they did not come in the house though.

We liked it better then ebay because we did not have to pay any fees or ship anything and worry about it not getting there or a scam.

**frugalfranny** · 08-24-2009, 01:16 AM

All these are really good tips surilda......read them and you will 'be in the know'..........good luck with your selling.

I think 'cash only' is a given. Have never had anyone ask me if I will take a check. Put it in your ad. Yes.......PICTURES.......and good ones. If I go to search for something I always check the images only button. I won't even waste my time reading about it if they can't post a pic. I post a pic with all of mine...........at least one. But DOWNSIZE them or they will take too long to load.......and too long for the people looking at the item.

And MEASUREMENTS (like someone else said)........though I will email to ask for them. But if you are selling and you don't measure and POST IT IN THE AD.....someone will write and want the measurements.

When I put my stuff in the garage 'to show'.......I just met them at the front door and told them that it was in the garage.....and let them in through the garage door. I never had any trouble......but better extra safe than sorry.

**canadamom** · 08-28-2009, 08:59 PM

Our local police did a special about this..... only meet at a public place parking lot and only cash and NEVER alone NEVER

**spyzvixxen** · 08-28-2009, 10:20 PM

I did a formula check trade once. I did everything thru e-mail and sent Vic to meet them in a public parking lot during broad daylight. Turns out the woman I was dealing with also sent her husband. I also made him call me with the guy's license plate just in case.

I would never go either myself alone or with the baby nor would I ever ever ever have a stranger come to my place. That just freaks me the heck out!!! Better safe than to save a few bucks.